Kendall brings his game to Glenview

Milwaukee native and veteran PGA Tour player Skip Kendall will be among the golfers teeing it up Thursday in opening-round action of the Nationwide Tour's Bank of America Open at the Glen Club in Glenview.

The likable Kendall, 43, who graduated from Nicolet High in Glendale, Wis., and owns four runner-up finishes on the PGA Tour, recently took time for a question-and-answer session with Daily Herald staff writer Joe Aguilar.

Q. With the Western Open having become the Mercedes Open and now coming to Cog Hill only in odd-numbered years, this will mark the first time in many years that the PGA Tour will not stop in Chicago. How important is it for the tour to have Chicago as an annual destination?

A. I'm just surprised that there's not regular stops in other places (too). There's a couple of places (including Denver) that have lost tournaments.

At least it's here (in Chicago) every other year, but at the same time, as a player, you always like familiar places that you know you're going to go to year in and year out. I think a place like Chicago deserves an event every year.

Q. Who got you hooked on golf?

A. Certainly my parents. I just remember golf spikes on pavement. That was a hook. I always wanted my first pair of golf shoes. Boy, that was huge.

And now I'm wearing soft spikes (laughs).

Q. Which club do you practice with the most?

A. Putter.

Q. Which club should amateurs practice with the most?

A. Putter. Short game, no question. Fastest way to lower your scores.

Q. Ever been nervous standing on the first tee?

A. Always.

I think every player -- Tiger Woods and down -- is nervous on the first tee. But you learn to channel it into just good adrenaline. I've hit some of my longest tee shots off the first tee, because I'm just so pumped up.

Q. You're 5-feet-8 and 150 pounds and not regarded as a long hitter. How do you compete against some of the bigger hitters?

A. I don't have a power game. I'm never going to overpower a golf course, so I've got to get things done in other areas. I try to pride myself on course management and just having a good short game and being a good putter.

Q. You've competed regularly on the Nationwide Tour the last couple of years and finished 26th on the money list in 2007, falling one spot shy of regaining full-time status on the PGA Tour. Where's your game?

A. Even though I'm 43, I really feel like my best golf is yet to come. I feel like I'm getting better and getting back to where I need to be. (In) '05 I was injury-plagued and it just led to a lot of bad stuff, swing-wise. I should have just taken a medical (exemption) that year, but I tried to play through it.

I'm very thankful that this (Nationwide) tour is around because it's a chance for me -- and someone my age -- to try to get better.

These players out here are unreal. It's almost the same level of competition. So I know that if I'm playing well out here, and I can win out here and finish in the top 25, I can go right back to the tour.